The pressure to win is not like two months ago, but Baltimore City Democratic incumbents still will be shaking hands and passing out leaflets at the polls today.
“After the nominees are put forth in the primary, everybody is saying the election is over,” said Armstead B.C. Jones Jr., Baltimore City?s election director.
“That?s just basically how it has been here in Baltimore.”
Nearly 80 percent of Baltimore?s voters are registered Democrats, and he said he doesn?t expect any close races today.
But that isn?t keeping the Democratic candidates from vying for the votes.
“She is not taking anything for granted,” said Shaun Adamec, spokesman for Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
Rawlings-Blake still has her campaign manager on board, will be doing radio interviews and recently sent out a mailing to voters. She also will be out at the polls.
District 1 Councilman James Kraft planned to put up signs the evening before the polls opened, and his campaign manager will be handing out literature to voters at the polls.
“I am going to win, but I don?t want voters to think I am taking it for granted,” he said.
Kraft still wants to reach out to Republicans, independents and those who want to vote against the status quo, he said.
Councilman Edward Reisinger, D-District 10, has continued to campaign, despite having held the seat since 1995.
“It?s going to be a low turnout, but you have to respect the process, and it?s an election,” he said.
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, D-District 14, recalled the words of U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.: “The best way to campaign for a job is to do the one you have well.”
“A lot of what I have been doing is my job,” including attending community meetings and responding to constituent concerns, Clarke said.
Mayor Sheila Dixon?s campaign appears to have waned. She is planning to visit three or four polling places, but has five meetings scheduled at City Hall, said spokesman Anthony McCarthy.
“She takes every vote seriously and every election seriously, but she will be balancing her work for the city as well as making a few campaign [stops],” he said,
“We are kind of confident that voters have made up their minds.”
Examiner Staff Writer Kelsey Volkmann contributed to this story.
